Gary Lineker has recalled something that he always felt about Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United amid the current speculation around Pep Guardiola’s future.
Sir Alex Ferguson, who is widely regarded as one of the best managers of all time alongside the likes of Pep Guardiola, retired from football management back in 2013.
The 84-year-old Scotsman led Manchester United to their last Premier League title in the 2012-13 campaign before he signed off on his remarkable Old Trafford reign.
Ferguson’s profound impact on football was felt long after his managerial departure as well, including United’s struggles to lift the Premier League trophy again.
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Gary Lineker on Sir Alex Ferguson at Man Utd amid Pep Guardiola preparing to leave Man City in the summer
Pep Guardiola’s rule at Manchester City is expected to end this summer amid mounting speculation over the former Barcelona and Spain manager’s future.
Former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has been tipped to succeed Guardiola at the Etihad, with Man City missing out on the Premier League title to Arsenal this season.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Gary Lineker insisted that David Moyes was always doomed at Manchester United after he succeeded Sir Alex Ferguson.
He explained that it is always important to be the person to replace someone who has failed rather than following in the footsteps of a Ferguson or a Guardiola.
“And I suppose Sir Alex did the same thing with David Moyes, but that didn’t quite work,” Lineker said.
“It’s the only place where it’s not really worked out with David, perhaps under him as well. But I think it’s just incredibly tough.
“I always used to say after Sir Alex did leave Manchester United: you don’t want that job.
“You want the one after the next job. So, when someone’s failed, I think it’ll be incredibly difficult.”
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Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker speak on Enzo Maresca and Pep Guardiola in comparison with Sir Alex Ferguson at Man Utd
City have not formally confirmed Guardiola’s exit — at the time of writing at least — while the 55-year-old Spaniard has remained cryptic about his managerial future.
Alan Shearer brought up iconic former United manager Ferguson as an example of what City could find with Guardiola potentially leaving Man City in the summer.
“Oh, I mean, yeah, we’ve seen so many over the years,” he said.
“I mean, Man United had been a great example with Sir Alex when he left. They still haven’t got it right after all these years. So, yeah, good luck to Maresca if it is him; he might need it.”
Responding to Alan Shearer, Lineker added: “Well, the rumours are that he’s already kind of signed some sort of contract, pre-contract or whatever.”
Shearer then continued: “But, you know, I guess they’ve spoken to Pep and Pep’s given his advice in terms of who he thinks and who you would want to take over from him.
“And I guess his advice would have been Maresca as well, having worked with him.”
Former Leicester City and Parma boss Enzo Maresca has been out of management since the beginning of 2026 after he left his role at Premier League side Chelsea.
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